I do. I believe the arts strengthen communities. They support a strong democracy and bring us closer to one another. I believe the arts transform us every day.

Yet, in the first and only audit of arts education in Illinois schools, Arts Alliance Illinois found that one in five schools offers no instruction in visual art, music, theater, or dance. We have a lot to do to ensure every student in Illinois experiences the arts as part of a well-rounded education.

We know arts learning helps young people prepare for success in school, work, and life. Students with high arts involvement are more likely to stay in school, earn higher grades, and perform better on standardized tests.

To help make sure all students in Illinois, no matter where they live, have the opportunity to discover and express themselves through the arts, we launched the Arts & Education Exchange this fall.

The Exchange is a free online tool that connects teachers and school leaders with arts providers who want to bring their programming to students who don't currently have access to the arts. Already, more than 250 museums, dance companies, orchestras, and theaters across the state have joined the Exchange.